UBS deserves credit for ending year in financial health with unsullied reputation rivals will envy

And another thing

By

Ian Kerr

January 13, 2003 5:00 p.m. GMT

Last week I went to the International Financing Review awards dinner at the awful Grosvenor House Hotel. Even the awards winners will admit that this is as much fun as having your mother-in-law to stay for Christmas, but in its own quirky way it has become part of the January banking calendar.

I was invited by Merrill Lynch, which ensured excellent company and fine wine. There is nothing you can do about the Grosvenor House food, where they are catering for a cast of thousands, but there was a small late supper party at Annabel's...